Winter's Bone (2010) Movie Script
1
Way down in Missouri
Where I heard this melody
When I was just a little baby
On my mama's knee
The old folks were humming
The banjos were strumming
So sweet and low
Hushabye my baby
Go to sleep on mama's knee
Journey back to these old hills
In dreams again with me
It seems like your mama
Was there once again
And the old folks were strumming
That same old refrain
Way down in Missouri
Where I heard this lullaby
When the stars were blinking
And the moon was shining high
And I hear mama calling
As in days long ago
Singing hushabye
Come on, Let's go.
[Wind blows]
[bluegrass on radio]
[Ree, softly]
Ashlee darling.
Hm?
Wake up.
Hm.
[grunts]
Wake up.
[grunts]
[Male Weatherman]
Temperatures are going
to do nothing but go down.
We'll have another very cold day tomorrow.
Morning.
...to freezing rain.
The Freewill Baptist Church
is having a fundraiser,
a covered-dish event,
that's coming up here
on Thursday evening,
so they're having a band concert.
That will be on Friday night
at the high school.
Better than nothing.
[Whines]
[distant gunfire]
[gunfire]
- [Water dripping]
- [country on radio]
Who's this?
Peanut Butter.
Where'd you find Peanut Butter?
In the woods.
He's sweet.
Spell "house."
- H-O-- [laughs]
- [laughs]
H-O...
A-woo.
U-A?
- Uh-uh.
- U.
Ssssss.
S-E?
H-O-U-S-E.
7 plus 2.
Good.
[children chattering]
Transfer.
Careful.
Cradle the head,
and then take him to your shoulder...
so he's up a little bit higher
but you're still supporting the head.
Make sure you hold this right under--
[Woman on P.A.]
Could I have your attention, please?
Forsyth, Missouri chapter
of the Family, Consumer,
and Career Leaders of America--
[Girl]
Hey, Ree.
...will meet this Friday at 3:00 p.m.
in Mrs. Boyer's room.
Truman University will be here--
Forward, march!
If you would like to attend,
please sign up in the counselor's office.
[Drill Leader]
March time.
[Drill Leader]
Forward, march.
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball
will be this Saturday in the men's--
All other P.C. cadets and their families
are encouraged to attend.
All right.
Hi, Sonya.
Hey, Ree.
You and the kids all right?
We're just a little short on cash right now.
How long's it been since the horse ate?
About four days.
That hay gets kind of expensive, don't it?
Yes ma'am.
Actually, l was wondering
if you could keep her with yours.
[gate clattering]
All right, Ginger, come on.
That's a girl.
There you go. There you go.
Have a little bit of that.
Come on. Get going.
Thank you, Sonya.
All right.
[chopping wood]
[barks]
[car approaching]
[barks]
[other dogs barking]
How are you today?
Ask me inside.
I need to talk some with your mama.
She don't talk much.
[Officer]
Ma'am?
I was wondering
if I could ask you a few questions.
Ma'am?
You better just tell me.
You know your daddy's
out on bond, don't you?
So what?
Looks like he's been cooking again.
l know that's the charges you laid on him,
but you ain't proved it on him.
You got to prove it every time.
Well, that won't be no hard thing to do,
but that ain't even why l'm here.
His court date's next week,
and l can't seem to turn him up.
Maybe he sees you and ducks.
That could be,
but where you all come into this is,
he put this house here,
and your timber acres, up for his bond.
He what, now?
Jessup signed over everything.
Now, if he doesn't show at trial, see,
the way the deal works is,
you all gonna lose this place.
You got some place to go?
l'll find him.
- Girl, I've been looking.
- I said I'll find him.
You make sure your daddy
knows the gravity of this deal.
[Boy]
Maybe they'll share some of that with us.
[Ree]
That could be.
Maybe we should ask.
Never ask for what ought to be offered.
[log thumps]
Evening, Ree.
- Evening.
- [Sonja] Kids. Hey, Connie.
Didn't want you to think
we'd forgot you all.
Brought you some meat, some potatoes,
and some stuff for a good stew, anyway.
Thank you. We can use it.
I seen your woodpile's low out front.
We got that splitter up there in the yard.
You should use it.
l'll do that.
We seen the law was
out here this afternoon.
Everything all right?
He's huntin' for Dad.
Hunting Jessup, is he?
You know where he's at?
No.
You sure about that?
Yes.
All right.
All right, well l guess you didn't have
nothing to tell him then, did you?
I wouldn't tell him nothing if l did.
Honey, we know that.
I'm going to let you get to it, all right?
[sighs]
How about some deer stew.
That sound good?
Mm-hm.
Both of you need to get over here
and watch how I make it.
[knocks]
Thank God it's you, Sweet Pea,
and not Floyd's
mommy and daddy again.
Them two watch me
like I done something wrong.
[Floyd]
Hush your mouth about them.
They put a roof
over your head, ain't they?
Hey, Floyd. You gonna invite me in?
Or I could just stay
out here and talk to you.
Yeah, you can come in.
Hey.
[cooing]
Shit.
Don't start.
C'mon.
It's been a while, Sweet Pea.
Things stack up, is all.
What's going on?
The Sheriff came by looking for Dad.
If he don't show up for his court date,
we're gonna lose the house.
I gotta get down to the Arkansas line.
l gotta ask him.
lt's his truck.
[coos]
[cooing]
He said no.
Did you tell him I'd spring for gas?
l told him. He still won't.
Why not?
He never says why not to me, Ree.
He just says no.
Man, that's so sad to hear you say
he won't let you do something
and then you don't do it.
lt's different once you're married.
lt really must be because you ain't
never used to eat no shit.
Ned needs his nap.
Come here.
[door opens]
[dog barks]
[door opens]
What brings you here?
Somebody dead?
l'm looking for my Dad.
Come on in. Shake off the chill.
Let's keep it quiet.
Teardrop's still laying up in bed.
The law came by today.
Dad signed over everything to his bond.
Victoria, I really gotta run
Dad down to get him to show.
- [cigarette lighter clicks]
- [Teardrop] You ought not do that.
Don't go running after Jessup.
Show or don't show,
that choice is up to the one going to jail,
not you.
You know where he's at, don't you?
Where a man's at ain't necessarily
for you to know, neither.
- But you do.
- I ain't seen him.
Could be running around
with Little Arthur and them, you think?
Don't you ever go down
around Little Arthur's
asking them people about shit
they ain't offering to talk about.
That's a real good way
to end up bit by hogs...
or wishing you was.
[clip snaps into pistol]
We're all related, ain't we?
[chuckles]
Our relations get watered kind of thin
between here and Little Arthur's.
You know all those people, Teardrop.
- You could ask--
- Shut up.
None of them's gonna be
in a great big hurry to tangle with you.
l said shut up once already
with my mouth.
Jesus. Dad's your only brother.
You think I forgot that?
Hm?
Jessup and me run together
for coming on 40 years,
but l don't know where he's at,
and l ain't gonna go around
asking after him, neither.
Ree, you still planning to join the Army?
No, l don't think l can anymore.
- Listen.
- [grunts]
[gasps]
Hm?
No.
[gasps]
[Victoria]
She needs help.
[Teardrop]
Nope. Listen.
Listen.
You tell that girl to stay close to home.
Don't move.
Give her this.
You send her ass on her way right now.
Teardrop says you best keep
your ass real close to the willows, dear.
- He hopes this helps.
- [money crinkles]
Here's a doobie for your walk.
Thank you.
[Woman]
Hey.
What's your business here?
My dad's Jessup.
He's pals with Little Arthur,
and I gotta find him.
Hold on.
[door closes]
My name's Megan.
And l do know you, really.
I seen you at some of the reunions.
I knew Jessup when I seen him, too.
Never did talk with him much.
You knew him?
Knew him when I seen him
around, I mean.
He does stuff l hear about.
- He cooks crank.
- They all do now.
You don't even need to say it out loud.
[Megan]
If Arthur's been running
on crank for a day or two,
you shouId just leave, okay?
l knew it.
l been in your dreams,
ain't l, little Ruthie?
lt's Ree, you asshole.
l'm only out to find Dad.
Come on in, ladies.
[makes kissing sounds]
This don't gotta take long, man.
l'm looking for Dad and thought maybe
you'd been seeing him.
Maybe you two been getting
into stuff together again.
Not since the summer,
at ya'll's place.
You ain't seen him nowhere since then?
Uh-uh.
He kept leaving
the house, going some place.
You don't know where?
You got cat shit in your ear, girl?
I've got them two kids
and my Mom to tend, man.
l need him.
If I see the dude, I'll tell him you said
that.
[Megan]
Your dad left you to do all that?
That's fucked up.
Well, he had to.
The way things go, you know.
You want a line?
No.
You wanna blow some smoke?
No.
[slams table]
Then l guess l got nothin' for you.
Go on.
Don't tell nobody it was me
who told you this, okay?
[distant gunshots]
But you're going to have to go on
up the hill
and ask for a talk with Thump Milton.
Now, l hope he'll talk with you.
He generally won't.
That man scares me
way more than the rest.
Well, scared ain't a bad way
to be about him, neither, hon.
He's my own grandpa,
and l still make damn sure
l never piss him off none.
You go see Thump.
[faint gunshot]
Go on.
[dogs barking]
You got the wrong place, I expect.
Who might you be?
l'm Ree.
My Dad's Jessup Dolly.
You ain't here for trouble, are you?
No, ma'am.
'Cause one of my nephews is Buster Leroy,
and didn't he shoot
your daddy one time?
Yes, but that ain't got
nothing to do with me.
They settled that theirselves, I think.
Shooting him likely settled it.
What is it you want?
I got a real bad need to talk with Thump.
And he ain't got no need to talk to you.
But I need to.
I really, I really, really
got to, ma'am, please.
Some of our blood at least is the same.
Ain't that supposed to mean something?
Ain't that what is always said?
Ain't you got no men could do this?
No, ma'am, I don't.
You go wait in the yard
somewhere by that coop,
and l'll tell Thump you're here.
Thanks.
Come on, already.
He ain't likely to have time for you, child.
l've got to talk to him.
If he don't know, nobody does.
Nope.
Talking just causes witnesses,
and he don't want for any of those.
l'll wait.
You need to get yourself on home.
Here, drink it down and be on your way.
Thanks.
Thump knows you were in the valley, child,
with Megan, and at Little Arthur's.
He knows what you want to ask,
and he don't want to hear it.
And that's it?
He ain't gonna say nothing to me?
lf you're listening, child,
you got your answer.
So I guess come the nut-cutting,
blood don't really mean shit
to the big man.
Am I understanding that right?
Don't you dare.
Don't.
I want you to listen to me, child.
You need to turn around,
and get yourself on home.
Don't you make me come
out here and tell you again.
Ashlee Dawn, come inside.
Bring Brownie and Cupcake.
[banging on door]
[Man]
Ree, get out here!
Do you know there's people going around
saying you best shut up?
People you ought to listen to.
- Get your ass in the truck.
- Don't touch me.
- Get your ass in the truck.
- Get off!
Get in the truck.
Hey!
Would you rather I hit you, boy?
Sonny, get back in the house.
Cook them taters till they're brown,
then turn the stove off.
- Don't hurt my sister.
- Sonny!
Having balls is good, boy.
Don't let 'em get you hurt.
Sonny, get in the house.
Get your dumb ass in the truck.
- I'm not getting in there with you.
- Get in the truck.
There's something you need to see.
Jessup and me
may have had our tussles,
but he was my cousin.
It's always a bad deal
when these things blow.
Where are we going?
- Down the road.
- Down the road to where?
To someplace you need to see.
This right here is the last place me
or anybody seen Jessup.
He never blew no lab before.
I know it, but something
must have jumped wrong this time.
He's known for never fucking up labs
or cooking bad batches.
He's known for knowing
what he's doing.
Well, you cook long enough,
this is bound to happen.
You're saying Dad's up there
burnt to a crisp?
That's what I'm saying.
l'm going up for a look.
No! That shit's poison.
lt'll rip the skin off your bones.
lf Dad's up there,
l'm bringing him home to bury.
Ree!
Ree, l know losing Jessup
leaves you all hurting over there.
l know it's a lot to handle.
We'll make do.
Sonya and me talked about it.
We feel we could take Sonny
off your hands.
Not Ashlee, I don't reckon,
but we could take Sonny.
You what?
We could take him and raise
him up the rest of the way.
My ass you will.
We'd raise that boy way better
than you and that
nut-job mama of yours can.
Maybe on down the line
we'd take Ashlee, too.
You go straight to hell, you son of a bitch.
Sonny and Ashlee will die
living in a cave with me and Mama
before they spend one night with you.
God damn you.
You must think I'm a stupid idiot.
There's weeds growing
chin high in that place.
lt must have been a year
since that place blew.
Come here, look at this.
Ash, quit playing around. Come here.
This trigger shoots this barrel.
Now, there's hardly ever
gonna be a time where you need both,
but if you gotta kill something
big and mean, then you use both.
Now, this gun is what
you'll use when you're older,
but this one is the gun I learned on.
This is Daddy's squirrel gun.
Now, the most important thing is
do not put your finger on the trigger
unless you're ready to shoot,
you're aimed at your target.
And don't ever-- both of you look at me--
never point this at each other, not ever.
All right?
Kneel down like you're praying.
Yeah, just like that. Yup.
You see that cross?
lt's called the crosshairs.
Aim that up with the middle
of your target,
and when that's lined up in the middle,
then you squeeze
the trigger and you shoot.
- Okay.
- [Gail] Ree.
Hang in.
Hey.
We're back here. Put this down.
Both of you sit on your hands.
Don't touch it.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Damn, Sweet Pea.
What's with all the guns?
Just teaching them a little bit of survival.
Hi.
[Ned coos]
Got the truck off him.
You are who I always did
think you were, darlin'.
You truly are.
[Ned coos]
Now, you gotta turn it this way.
Backwards?
Yeah. Give me that.
Does your mama know what's going on?
l'm not sure.
You think you should tell her?
This is the exact shit
she went crazy trying to get away from.
It'd be too mean to tell her.
I guess she couldn't help anyhow.
Nope.
[bluegrass]
[Woman]
I look on that valley far below
It's green as far as I can see
As my memories return
Oh, how my heart does yearn
For you and the days that used to be
High on the mountain
Wind blowing free
I wonder if you still remember me
Play it through.
I wonder if you still remember me
- Or has time erased your memory?
- [knocking continues]
As I listen to the breeze
Whisper gently through the trees
I wonder if you still remember me
Say.
[chattering, laughing]
Come on in.
lt's Ma's birthday.
Happy Birthday.
[woman resumes]
Y'all want anything?
Something to drink, food?
l'm hunting for Dad.
I was guessing that.
Stars on a summer morning
Come on now.
First appear
And then they're gone
Wish I was
A little sparrow
And I had wings
And I could fly
I'd fly straight away
You know me and Jessup
quit keeping company
a good while ago.
l figured.
l thought you might still
know a thing or two.
l'm kind of afraid l might.
I wish I could kick back for this one, Ree.
You still bad on the bottle?
No. No, I give that up.
A couple months ago,
Jessup and me run across
each other by total accident.
He got me to laughing so.
Things rekindled for a day or two.
Then he was gone again.
About, maybe, three or four weeks back,
l'd stopped at Cruikshank's,
and he was in there with
three fellows I didn't know,
and they didn't look
to be having no fun, either.
Did Dad say anything?
He looked square at me
but acted like he didn't know me,
like he'd never seen me before.
Something real wrong was going on.
l'm sorry.
If you stay really still and quiet--
[sneezes]
...it'll come out. Bless you.
[Sonny]
How long do we have to wait for a squirrel?
[Ree]
A long time, usually.
Wish we could get deer.
[Ree]
lt's not time for deer.
When is it?
ln the morning or at night.
You know that.
[whispers]
Do you see one?
- Mmm.
- I do.
Where?
There.
Ah.
You want to help me pull the trigger?
All right, put your finger right there.
All right, you guys want
these fried or stewed?
- Fried.
- Fried.
Fried?
All right.
- Hey.
- [Gail] Hey.
All right.
Now, get your fingers in there.
l'll get mine in.
1 , 2, 3.
Pull. Pull hard.
Now, l'm just gonna slit it down here.
Now, get in there
and get them guts out.
l don't want to.
Sonny, there's a bunch of stuff
that you're gonna have to get over
being scared of.
l'm not scared. l just don't want to.
Come on.
Put your fingers in there.
Good.
Do we eat these parts?
Not yet.
[motor rattling]
[motor stops]
- You think I forgot about you?
- What do you mean?
Forgot about you and everything
happening over here?
That's your business.
You forget us if you want.
The law found Jessup's car
at Gullet Lake this morning.
Somebody set fire to it last night,
burnt it down to nothing almost.
He wasn't in it.
He's gone, ain't he?
This is for you all.
[paper rustles]
His court day was this morning.
He didn't show.
I'd sell off your timber land
now while you can.
No, uh-uh.
We won't be doin' nothin' like that.
That's the very first thing they'll do.
Once they've took this place
from under you all, girl,
go out and cut them
hundred-year woods down to nubs.
Might as well have the dough
to spend on your own.
Hm?
[object rustling]
[keys jingle]
[sniffs]
You get the taste for it yet?
Not so far.
Suit yourself, little girl.
Them pills helping
your mama's mood any?
She keeps takin' them,
but they ain't working.
Tell her hey.
[sniffs]
Mom, look at me.
There's things happening,
and I don't know what to do.
Can you please help me this one time?
Mom?
Mom, look at me.
Teardrop thinks
I should sell the woods, Mom.
Should I sell?
Please, help me this one time.
l don't know what to do.
[Ree]
Who the hell is he?
[Gail]
Judging by that car, he ain't
from our neck of the woods.
Mike Satterfield, A-1 Bonds.
What is it you want?
We hold the bond on Jessup Dolly,
and now he's a runner, it looks like.
Dad ain't no runner.
He didn't show for court.
That makes him a runner.
Will you excuse us, please?
Go on.
Look, I don't want to kick
your dad's ass, all right?
I just want to keep the judge off mine.
Dad is dead.
He didn't show for court
'cause he's lying dead somewhere.
When was the last time you saw him?
A couple of weeks.
Who's he running around with?
Where they all hanging out?
He doesn't tell me that stuff, sir.
You know I got the legal right
to go in there hunting the man
any place l want.
I know you'd be wasting your time
and pissing me off.
Jessup Dolly is dead.
He's lying in a crappy grave somewhere
or become piles of shit in a hog pen.
Maybe he's been left out plain in the open.
Wherever he is, he's there dead.
And you know this how?
You must've heard what Dollys are,
ain't you, mister?
Well, I've heard what some are anyhow,
and I have bonded a few.
I'm a Dolly, bred and buttered,
and that's how l know Dad's dead.
How old are you?
1 7.
You know, uh, your daddy
was short on his bond.
This house and stuff here
couldn't cover it, not nearly.
D'you know that?
I didn't know nothin'.
They told me everything after.
Well, he was short on his bond,
but then this fella comes
in the office one evening,
got him a sack full of crinkled money
and just laid it down right there,
covered the rest.
Seemed like somebody
needed him sprung in a hurry.
This fella with the money have a name?
Shit, no.
Probably left that in his other pants.
How long before we get
kicked off our own property?
l reckon--
l reckon you all got this place
about another week.
That's my guess.
A week?
And there ain't nothing l can do?
Nope.
Ain't nothing left to do...
unless you can prove he's dead.
Catfish, Blond, you boys
staying out of trouble?
[man auctioneering]
[yells]
[barks]
[muttering]
[all mooing]
Thump Milton!
I need to talk to you!
Thump Milton.
Thump Milton!
Thump!
[moos]
[thunder rumbles]
[dogs barking]
[screams]
[Merab]
I told you to leave him be.
[grunting]
- [yells]
- [Merab] Get her, Alice.
No, you don't.
[screams]
[Merab]
That's what you get for not listening to me.
- [thud]
- [Ree screams]
[muffled screaming]
[thunder rumbles]
You was warned.
You was warned nice,
and you wouldn't listen.
Why didn't you listen?
What are we ever going to do
with you, baby girl?
Kill me, I guess.
That idea has been said already.
Got any others?
Help me.
Ain't nobody said
that idea yet, have they?
I tried to help you some before.
This is what come of it.
[door opens]
You got somethin' to say,
child, you best say it now.
I got two kids
that can't feed themselves yet.
My mom's sick,
and she's always gonna be sick.
Pretty soon the laws are coming
and taking our house
and throwing us out to live
in the field like dogs.
If Dad has done wrong, Dad has paid,
and whoever killed him,
I don't need to know all that.
But I can't forever carry them kids...
and my mom,
not without that house.
[car approaching]
Oh, shit.
I ain't gonna stand here naked
when that motherfucker comes in.
[garage door opening]
Where is she?
Don't get all excited, Teardrop.
She was warned, and more than once.
You hit her?
He never.
No man here touched that crazy girl.
I put the hurt on her,
me and my sisters.
They was here, too.
What Jessup done was against our ways.
He knew it, I know it,
and I ain't raised no stink at all
about whatever became of him.
But she ain't my brother.
She's about all
the close family I got left,
so I'll be collecting her now
and carrying her on out of here to home.
That suit you, Thump?
You're gonna stand for her, are you?
If she does wrong, you can put it on me.
She's now yours to answer for.
This is a girl
who ain't gonna tell nobody nothing.
[Thump]
You boys give him a hand.
Go on, put her in his truck.
[thunder rumbles]
[rain pattering]
Chomp down on that
till the blood lets up.
Your daddy couldn't face this last bust,
couldn't face a 1 0-year jolt.
He started talking to that fucking sheriff.
You own me now.
Understand?
They been waiting to see
if I'll do anything.
Watching.
I can't know for a certain fact
who went and killed my little brother.
Even if you find out,
you can't ever let me know who killed him.
Knowing that would just mean
I'd be toes up myself pretty soon.
Deal?
[Gail]
No, get out of the-- open the door.
- [Sonny] What? What's happened?
- Go on. Watch out.
[groans]
Gonna burn.
Squeeze my hand.
[swishes]
Thank you.
[door opens]
l just heard.
I brought these over for you.
They're painkillers. They're real strong.
These are gonna kick in real quick.
- Start with two.
- Okay.
She's gonna want more,
but start with two and build from there,
whatever number lets her rest.
Thank you.
Will you stay until I fall asleep first?
Yeah, I will.
But then make sure
they're doing their homework.
All right.
Does your arm hurt?
No.
Not bad.
[chainsaw buzzing]
[tree cracking]
[chainsaw stops]
[chainsaw buzzing]
[fades]
[distant gunfire]
[fire rumbles]
[distant bird crying]
Blond Milton said him and Sonya
would take Sonny in.
I tell you that?
Raise him on up from here for me.
Does he know? Sonny?
Not from us.
lf he knows, it's from somebody else
blabbing, 'cause l never.
He doesn't even know Dad cooks.
If they took him, that might help some.
What about Ashlee?
She don't shine for them.
Well, what else can you do?
Beg Victoria and Teardrop
to take Ashlee in.
God, I hope that ain't
the way it goes, Sweet Pea.
l hope to hell it ain't.
[class bell rings]
It was nice meeting you.
- Have a good day, okay?
- Thanks.
Hi, how you doing? Sergeant Schalk.
- Ree Dolly.
- Nice to meet you.
So what brought you
down here today, Ree?
Um, I wanted to find out more
about the $40,000 I get for signing up.
Well, that's a good reason
for joining,
but why don't you give me
three better reasons for joining?
Because once you join up,
there's no turning back,
and it might not be worth
$40,000 dollars to you.
Well, the main reason
is I need the money.
It'd be nice to travel, I suppose.
You know, five years
is a long commitment.
Well, how long
before l get the money?
Well, after you sign up,
it would be anywhere
between 1 4 weeks to 82 weeks.
Well, how come it doesn't say that
on the poster?
Probably a clerical error,
or it just wasn't on there.
It might have been
in fine print at the bottom.
Do you mind me asking,
what happened to your--
your eye and your lip?
l fell off my bike.
Fell off a bike?
Well, um, how old are you?
- 1 7.
- You're 1 7.
Okay. Now, if this is something
you really wanted to do,
we'd have to bring Mom and Dad
in on this, okay?
I can sign for myself.
Not at 1 7, you can't.
At 1 7 you're still considered
a minor by the U.S. Government.
You have to be 1 8 to sign up.
Would it be a problem
getting Mom and Dad in here?
l mean, l can come out
to you guys' house--
My mom is sick.
My dad's. . . gone.
Well, do you have any brothers or sisters
that might be able to help?
I got a little brother
and a little sister, 1 2 and 6.
Well, who's taking care of them right now?
- I am.
- You are?
Is that why you need the $40,000?
Yes, sir.
Well, it sounds like
it might be a bigger challenge
just to stay home, you know,
and actually take care
of your brother and sister
because you know you're not
going to be able to take them
with you to training, right?
I thought maybe I could.
Not right at the beginning.
Plus you wouldn't be able to have them
when you're actually
in the active duty Army
because who's going to be
there to take care of them
if you have to go off and actually fight?
So it sounds like right now
you need to buckle up and stay home.
It's going to take a lot of backbone
and a lot of courage to stay home,
but that, l think, is what you need to do
right at this point.
Okay?
Now, something might change
here in the next year or so.
You might decide
this is what you want to do, you know?
But don't take it lightly,
and don't do it just for the money.
You need to have a good reason
to do this, okay?
- Okay.
- All right, well, it was nice meeting you.
Nice meeting you.
Have a good day, okay?
Thank you.
What's going on?
I'm tired of waiting around
for shit to come down.
Let's get out and poke 'em
where they're at,
see what happens.
[groans]
[country]
[chatter]
[sighs]
[chattering, laughing]
Oh, Lord.
Ray and them are over there.
Ray.
[Ray]
What do you want?
l ain't seen him.
If I could help you, I would.
There's certain things you can't do.
lt's bullshit, this fucking shit, man.
[kicks door]
You're useless as tits on a fucking boar.
l don't know where he is.
It's gonna be much worse
next time I come back.
l'll tell you that right now.
[Ray]
Best thing you can do
is leave it alone, brother.
Believe me.
You come back up in here,
you gonna get you an ass whoopin'
that won't quit.
Oh, yeah?
Look what the fuck
this shit already caused.
- What the hell?
- [clattering]
[Ray]
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
[pound]
[Ray]
Hey!
[Ray]
lt's on now.
[starts engine]
[Ray]
lt's so on.
We're coming after you, dude.
We're coming,
and we're bringing hell, too.
[Ree]
What the hell are we doing?
[Teardrop]
Looking for humps that ain't settled.
[sighs]
Oh, hell.
He ain't here.
He ain't anywhere.
[flicks lighter, exhales]
He's somewhere.
[siren bleeps]
- Teardrop.
- [bleeps]
You should stop.
Just see what he wants.
Shh...
[car door shuts]
Get out of the truck, Teardrop.
I need to talk to you.
l don't think so.
lt ain't about you.
You're not in trouble.
lt's about your brother.
Nope.
Tonight I ain't doin'
a fucking thing you say.
Get out of the truck.
Put your hands where I can see 'em.
Come on, get out.
Why'd you tell?
Why?
You went and got his ass killed.
You happy now?
l know you.
l know your family.
Get out of the car now.
Is this gonna be our time?
[starts ignition]
[Ree]
What I really can't stand
is why I feel so ashamed for Dad.
Well, he loved you all.
That's where he went weak.
Lots of us can be tough,
plenty tough enough,
and do it for a long stretch, too.
But snitching.
For lots and lots 'a years he wasn't.
He wasn't, he wasn't,
and one day he was.
You always have scared me.
That's 'cause you're smart.
[Ree]
Will you look through this stuff?
See what you want to keep?
That's Dad.
And Teardrop.
Ashlee, you remember
when Dad made that for you?
Mm-hm.
Look at this guy with her.
[Sonny]
That's him?
Mm-hm.
How old was he in that picture?
Probably around my age.
"I don't know how l ever
latched on to someone like you,
"but I sure hope I can keep
you interested in me forever.
l love you and will always be true."
Ha! Found ya.
Found ya!
[knocks]
We're goin' to fix your problem for you.
Right now I'm feeling
like blowing me a clean hole
through your fucking guts.
I know you do,
but you won't.
You'll put that scatter gun
away and come along with us.
You must think I'm crazy.
We'll take you to your daddy's bones.
We know the place.
We need to put a stop
to all this nonsense talk
about us we've been having to hear.
I ain't said a thing about you.
I know, but everybody else has.
l'm bringing this.
No, you won't bring that, either.
You want his bones,
you'll set that down and come along.
You go on and take that sack off now.
Give it to me.
Child, you might know where you are.
If you do, you forget you know it.
You get me?
[cows mooing]
[metal clatters]
[Merab]
He should be right there.
You're gonna need to reach down
and tug him up.
He ain't deep.
Straight down.
Can you feel of him?
[panting]
[groans]
[Whimpering]
All right, now.
- Here, take this.
- What?
- How else you gonna get his hands?
- No.
- Oh, come on, child.
- No.
Your daddy would want you to do this.
Now, here, take the saw.
[Alice]
She can't do it, Merab.
Hold his arm out straight, child.
[yanking pull starter]
Shit.
[Weeping]
Why'd you let go?
You're gonna need both hands,
or sure as shit they'll say he cut one off
to keep from going to prison.
They know that trick.
Now reach back down in there, now, quick.
[Water splashes]
[starts chainsaw]
[gasps]
There you go.
Let's go, Alice.
[Man on police radio]
Christian County 1 36,
that thing comes back
to a P.O. Box address out of Cassville.
The owner appears to be
a relative of the female
who is taking care of the kids.
[Woman on radio]
Christian County to 1 60.
[Man]
Got it.
Come on back.
Oh.
How in the hell did you come by these?
Someone flung them
up on the porch last night.
Reckon l'll run these straight over.
The lab can tell me if they're his.
They're his.
Those are my dad's hands.
We'll know yes or no
on that soon enough.
l bet your dad would still be here
if he was just growing his marijuana.
Hey.
I didn't shoot the other night
'cause you were there in the truck.
He never backed me down.
It looked to me like he did.
Don't you let me hear
that's the story getting around.
I don't talk about you, man, ever.
You're a good boy.
Good boy.
Thank you.
Clip. Thank you.
[car door shuts]
Sonny.
Hey, Ashlee.
I brung these for you two to raise up.
[together]
Thank you.
What's he doing here?
I have no idea.
l know you.
[Satterfield]
Yep.
Looks like you earned
this money with blood, kid.
- That's yours.
- How's it mine?
Well, that feller never did give a name,
but he sure was good news for you all
when he put that down on Jessup.
Ain't it still his, though?
You can use it
a hell of a lot more than him.
He ain't gonna come back for it, neither,
not the way things happened.
We took our cut,
and that there's what's left.
That makes it yours.
I don't know how you did that.
Bred and buttered. I told you.
Well, you take care, okay?
Here.
Yeah.
Well, it's been a long time.
Back off a little.
You're making me nervous.
Oh, shit.
Hm.
I was never good like your daddy was.
l know who.
What?
Jessup.
l know who.
You should have this.
Oh, no, you--
Why don't you keep it here for me?
[starts truck, drives off]
Does that money mean you're leaving?
l ain't leaving you guys.
Why do you think that?
We heard you talking about the Army.
Are you wanting to leave us?
I'd be lost without
the weight of you two on my back.
l ain't going anywhere.
[chirping]
[banjo]
[Woman]
Tempted and tried
We're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus
All the day long
While there are others
Living about us
Never molested
Though in the wrong
Farther along
We'll know more about it
Farther along
We'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother
Live in the sunshine
'Cause we'll understand it
All by and by
Sometimes I wonder
Why must I suffer
Out in the rain
The cold, and the snow
When there are many
Living in comfort
Giving no heed
To all that I know
Farther along
We'll know more about it
Farther along
We'll understand why
But cheer up, my sister
Live in the sunshine
We'll understand it
All by and by
[guitar]
Subtitled By J.R. Media Services, lnc.
Burbank, CA
Way down in Missouri
Where I heard this melody
When I was just a little baby
On my mama's knee
The old folks were humming
The banjos were strumming
So sweet and low
Hushabye my baby
Go to sleep on mama's knee
Journey back to these old hills
In dreams again with me
It seems like your mama
Was there once again
And the old folks were strumming
That same old refrain
Way down in Missouri
Where I heard this lullaby
When the stars were blinking
And the moon was shining high
And I hear mama calling
As in days long ago
Singing hushabye
Come on, Let's go.
[Wind blows]
[bluegrass on radio]
[Ree, softly]
Ashlee darling.
Hm?
Wake up.
Hm.
[grunts]
Wake up.
[grunts]
[Male Weatherman]
Temperatures are going
to do nothing but go down.
We'll have another very cold day tomorrow.
Morning.
...to freezing rain.
The Freewill Baptist Church
is having a fundraiser,
a covered-dish event,
that's coming up here
on Thursday evening,
so they're having a band concert.
That will be on Friday night
at the high school.
Better than nothing.
[Whines]
[distant gunfire]
[gunfire]
- [Water dripping]
- [country on radio]
Who's this?
Peanut Butter.
Where'd you find Peanut Butter?
In the woods.
He's sweet.
Spell "house."
- H-O-- [laughs]
- [laughs]
H-O...
A-woo.
U-A?
- Uh-uh.
- U.
Ssssss.
S-E?
H-O-U-S-E.
7 plus 2.
Good.
[children chattering]
Transfer.
Careful.
Cradle the head,
and then take him to your shoulder...
so he's up a little bit higher
but you're still supporting the head.
Make sure you hold this right under--
[Woman on P.A.]
Could I have your attention, please?
Forsyth, Missouri chapter
of the Family, Consumer,
and Career Leaders of America--
[Girl]
Hey, Ree.
...will meet this Friday at 3:00 p.m.
in Mrs. Boyer's room.
Truman University will be here--
Forward, march!
If you would like to attend,
please sign up in the counselor's office.
[Drill Leader]
March time.
[Drill Leader]
Forward, march.
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball
will be this Saturday in the men's--
All other P.C. cadets and their families
are encouraged to attend.
All right.
Hi, Sonya.
Hey, Ree.
You and the kids all right?
We're just a little short on cash right now.
How long's it been since the horse ate?
About four days.
That hay gets kind of expensive, don't it?
Yes ma'am.
Actually, l was wondering
if you could keep her with yours.
[gate clattering]
All right, Ginger, come on.
That's a girl.
There you go. There you go.
Have a little bit of that.
Come on. Get going.
Thank you, Sonya.
All right.
[chopping wood]
[barks]
[car approaching]
[barks]
[other dogs barking]
How are you today?
Ask me inside.
I need to talk some with your mama.
She don't talk much.
[Officer]
Ma'am?
I was wondering
if I could ask you a few questions.
Ma'am?
You better just tell me.
You know your daddy's
out on bond, don't you?
So what?
Looks like he's been cooking again.
l know that's the charges you laid on him,
but you ain't proved it on him.
You got to prove it every time.
Well, that won't be no hard thing to do,
but that ain't even why l'm here.
His court date's next week,
and l can't seem to turn him up.
Maybe he sees you and ducks.
That could be,
but where you all come into this is,
he put this house here,
and your timber acres, up for his bond.
He what, now?
Jessup signed over everything.
Now, if he doesn't show at trial, see,
the way the deal works is,
you all gonna lose this place.
You got some place to go?
l'll find him.
- Girl, I've been looking.
- I said I'll find him.
You make sure your daddy
knows the gravity of this deal.
[Boy]
Maybe they'll share some of that with us.
[Ree]
That could be.
Maybe we should ask.
Never ask for what ought to be offered.
[log thumps]
Evening, Ree.
- Evening.
- [Sonja] Kids. Hey, Connie.
Didn't want you to think
we'd forgot you all.
Brought you some meat, some potatoes,
and some stuff for a good stew, anyway.
Thank you. We can use it.
I seen your woodpile's low out front.
We got that splitter up there in the yard.
You should use it.
l'll do that.
We seen the law was
out here this afternoon.
Everything all right?
He's huntin' for Dad.
Hunting Jessup, is he?
You know where he's at?
No.
You sure about that?
Yes.
All right.
All right, well l guess you didn't have
nothing to tell him then, did you?
I wouldn't tell him nothing if l did.
Honey, we know that.
I'm going to let you get to it, all right?
[sighs]
How about some deer stew.
That sound good?
Mm-hm.
Both of you need to get over here
and watch how I make it.
[knocks]
Thank God it's you, Sweet Pea,
and not Floyd's
mommy and daddy again.
Them two watch me
like I done something wrong.
[Floyd]
Hush your mouth about them.
They put a roof
over your head, ain't they?
Hey, Floyd. You gonna invite me in?
Or I could just stay
out here and talk to you.
Yeah, you can come in.
Hey.
[cooing]
Shit.
Don't start.
C'mon.
It's been a while, Sweet Pea.
Things stack up, is all.
What's going on?
The Sheriff came by looking for Dad.
If he don't show up for his court date,
we're gonna lose the house.
I gotta get down to the Arkansas line.
l gotta ask him.
lt's his truck.
[coos]
[cooing]
He said no.
Did you tell him I'd spring for gas?
l told him. He still won't.
Why not?
He never says why not to me, Ree.
He just says no.
Man, that's so sad to hear you say
he won't let you do something
and then you don't do it.
lt's different once you're married.
lt really must be because you ain't
never used to eat no shit.
Ned needs his nap.
Come here.
[door opens]
[dog barks]
[door opens]
What brings you here?
Somebody dead?
l'm looking for my Dad.
Come on in. Shake off the chill.
Let's keep it quiet.
Teardrop's still laying up in bed.
The law came by today.
Dad signed over everything to his bond.
Victoria, I really gotta run
Dad down to get him to show.
- [cigarette lighter clicks]
- [Teardrop] You ought not do that.
Don't go running after Jessup.
Show or don't show,
that choice is up to the one going to jail,
not you.
You know where he's at, don't you?
Where a man's at ain't necessarily
for you to know, neither.
- But you do.
- I ain't seen him.
Could be running around
with Little Arthur and them, you think?
Don't you ever go down
around Little Arthur's
asking them people about shit
they ain't offering to talk about.
That's a real good way
to end up bit by hogs...
or wishing you was.
[clip snaps into pistol]
We're all related, ain't we?
[chuckles]
Our relations get watered kind of thin
between here and Little Arthur's.
You know all those people, Teardrop.
- You could ask--
- Shut up.
None of them's gonna be
in a great big hurry to tangle with you.
l said shut up once already
with my mouth.
Jesus. Dad's your only brother.
You think I forgot that?
Hm?
Jessup and me run together
for coming on 40 years,
but l don't know where he's at,
and l ain't gonna go around
asking after him, neither.
Ree, you still planning to join the Army?
No, l don't think l can anymore.
- Listen.
- [grunts]
[gasps]
Hm?
No.
[gasps]
[Victoria]
She needs help.
[Teardrop]
Nope. Listen.
Listen.
You tell that girl to stay close to home.
Don't move.
Give her this.
You send her ass on her way right now.
Teardrop says you best keep
your ass real close to the willows, dear.
- He hopes this helps.
- [money crinkles]
Here's a doobie for your walk.
Thank you.
[Woman]
Hey.
What's your business here?
My dad's Jessup.
He's pals with Little Arthur,
and I gotta find him.
Hold on.
[door closes]
My name's Megan.
And l do know you, really.
I seen you at some of the reunions.
I knew Jessup when I seen him, too.
Never did talk with him much.
You knew him?
Knew him when I seen him
around, I mean.
He does stuff l hear about.
- He cooks crank.
- They all do now.
You don't even need to say it out loud.
[Megan]
If Arthur's been running
on crank for a day or two,
you shouId just leave, okay?
l knew it.
l been in your dreams,
ain't l, little Ruthie?
lt's Ree, you asshole.
l'm only out to find Dad.
Come on in, ladies.
[makes kissing sounds]
This don't gotta take long, man.
l'm looking for Dad and thought maybe
you'd been seeing him.
Maybe you two been getting
into stuff together again.
Not since the summer,
at ya'll's place.
You ain't seen him nowhere since then?
Uh-uh.
He kept leaving
the house, going some place.
You don't know where?
You got cat shit in your ear, girl?
I've got them two kids
and my Mom to tend, man.
l need him.
If I see the dude, I'll tell him you said
that.
[Megan]
Your dad left you to do all that?
That's fucked up.
Well, he had to.
The way things go, you know.
You want a line?
No.
You wanna blow some smoke?
No.
[slams table]
Then l guess l got nothin' for you.
Go on.
Don't tell nobody it was me
who told you this, okay?
[distant gunshots]
But you're going to have to go on
up the hill
and ask for a talk with Thump Milton.
Now, l hope he'll talk with you.
He generally won't.
That man scares me
way more than the rest.
Well, scared ain't a bad way
to be about him, neither, hon.
He's my own grandpa,
and l still make damn sure
l never piss him off none.
You go see Thump.
[faint gunshot]
Go on.
[dogs barking]
You got the wrong place, I expect.
Who might you be?
l'm Ree.
My Dad's Jessup Dolly.
You ain't here for trouble, are you?
No, ma'am.
'Cause one of my nephews is Buster Leroy,
and didn't he shoot
your daddy one time?
Yes, but that ain't got
nothing to do with me.
They settled that theirselves, I think.
Shooting him likely settled it.
What is it you want?
I got a real bad need to talk with Thump.
And he ain't got no need to talk to you.
But I need to.
I really, I really, really
got to, ma'am, please.
Some of our blood at least is the same.
Ain't that supposed to mean something?
Ain't that what is always said?
Ain't you got no men could do this?
No, ma'am, I don't.
You go wait in the yard
somewhere by that coop,
and l'll tell Thump you're here.
Thanks.
Come on, already.
He ain't likely to have time for you, child.
l've got to talk to him.
If he don't know, nobody does.
Nope.
Talking just causes witnesses,
and he don't want for any of those.
l'll wait.
You need to get yourself on home.
Here, drink it down and be on your way.
Thanks.
Thump knows you were in the valley, child,
with Megan, and at Little Arthur's.
He knows what you want to ask,
and he don't want to hear it.
And that's it?
He ain't gonna say nothing to me?
lf you're listening, child,
you got your answer.
So I guess come the nut-cutting,
blood don't really mean shit
to the big man.
Am I understanding that right?
Don't you dare.
Don't.
I want you to listen to me, child.
You need to turn around,
and get yourself on home.
Don't you make me come
out here and tell you again.
Ashlee Dawn, come inside.
Bring Brownie and Cupcake.
[banging on door]
[Man]
Ree, get out here!
Do you know there's people going around
saying you best shut up?
People you ought to listen to.
- Get your ass in the truck.
- Don't touch me.
- Get your ass in the truck.
- Get off!
Get in the truck.
Hey!
Would you rather I hit you, boy?
Sonny, get back in the house.
Cook them taters till they're brown,
then turn the stove off.
- Don't hurt my sister.
- Sonny!
Having balls is good, boy.
Don't let 'em get you hurt.
Sonny, get in the house.
Get your dumb ass in the truck.
- I'm not getting in there with you.
- Get in the truck.
There's something you need to see.
Jessup and me
may have had our tussles,
but he was my cousin.
It's always a bad deal
when these things blow.
Where are we going?
- Down the road.
- Down the road to where?
To someplace you need to see.
This right here is the last place me
or anybody seen Jessup.
He never blew no lab before.
I know it, but something
must have jumped wrong this time.
He's known for never fucking up labs
or cooking bad batches.
He's known for knowing
what he's doing.
Well, you cook long enough,
this is bound to happen.
You're saying Dad's up there
burnt to a crisp?
That's what I'm saying.
l'm going up for a look.
No! That shit's poison.
lt'll rip the skin off your bones.
lf Dad's up there,
l'm bringing him home to bury.
Ree!
Ree, l know losing Jessup
leaves you all hurting over there.
l know it's a lot to handle.
We'll make do.
Sonya and me talked about it.
We feel we could take Sonny
off your hands.
Not Ashlee, I don't reckon,
but we could take Sonny.
You what?
We could take him and raise
him up the rest of the way.
My ass you will.
We'd raise that boy way better
than you and that
nut-job mama of yours can.
Maybe on down the line
we'd take Ashlee, too.
You go straight to hell, you son of a bitch.
Sonny and Ashlee will die
living in a cave with me and Mama
before they spend one night with you.
God damn you.
You must think I'm a stupid idiot.
There's weeds growing
chin high in that place.
lt must have been a year
since that place blew.
Come here, look at this.
Ash, quit playing around. Come here.
This trigger shoots this barrel.
Now, there's hardly ever
gonna be a time where you need both,
but if you gotta kill something
big and mean, then you use both.
Now, this gun is what
you'll use when you're older,
but this one is the gun I learned on.
This is Daddy's squirrel gun.
Now, the most important thing is
do not put your finger on the trigger
unless you're ready to shoot,
you're aimed at your target.
And don't ever-- both of you look at me--
never point this at each other, not ever.
All right?
Kneel down like you're praying.
Yeah, just like that. Yup.
You see that cross?
lt's called the crosshairs.
Aim that up with the middle
of your target,
and when that's lined up in the middle,
then you squeeze
the trigger and you shoot.
- Okay.
- [Gail] Ree.
Hang in.
Hey.
We're back here. Put this down.
Both of you sit on your hands.
Don't touch it.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Damn, Sweet Pea.
What's with all the guns?
Just teaching them a little bit of survival.
Hi.
[Ned coos]
Got the truck off him.
You are who I always did
think you were, darlin'.
You truly are.
[Ned coos]
Now, you gotta turn it this way.
Backwards?
Yeah. Give me that.
Does your mama know what's going on?
l'm not sure.
You think you should tell her?
This is the exact shit
she went crazy trying to get away from.
It'd be too mean to tell her.
I guess she couldn't help anyhow.
Nope.
[bluegrass]
[Woman]
I look on that valley far below
It's green as far as I can see
As my memories return
Oh, how my heart does yearn
For you and the days that used to be
High on the mountain
Wind blowing free
I wonder if you still remember me
Play it through.
I wonder if you still remember me
- Or has time erased your memory?
- [knocking continues]
As I listen to the breeze
Whisper gently through the trees
I wonder if you still remember me
Say.
[chattering, laughing]
Come on in.
lt's Ma's birthday.
Happy Birthday.
[woman resumes]
Y'all want anything?
Something to drink, food?
l'm hunting for Dad.
I was guessing that.
Stars on a summer morning
Come on now.
First appear
And then they're gone
Wish I was
A little sparrow
And I had wings
And I could fly
I'd fly straight away
You know me and Jessup
quit keeping company
a good while ago.
l figured.
l thought you might still
know a thing or two.
l'm kind of afraid l might.
I wish I could kick back for this one, Ree.
You still bad on the bottle?
No. No, I give that up.
A couple months ago,
Jessup and me run across
each other by total accident.
He got me to laughing so.
Things rekindled for a day or two.
Then he was gone again.
About, maybe, three or four weeks back,
l'd stopped at Cruikshank's,
and he was in there with
three fellows I didn't know,
and they didn't look
to be having no fun, either.
Did Dad say anything?
He looked square at me
but acted like he didn't know me,
like he'd never seen me before.
Something real wrong was going on.
l'm sorry.
If you stay really still and quiet--
[sneezes]
...it'll come out. Bless you.
[Sonny]
How long do we have to wait for a squirrel?
[Ree]
A long time, usually.
Wish we could get deer.
[Ree]
lt's not time for deer.
When is it?
ln the morning or at night.
You know that.
[whispers]
Do you see one?
- Mmm.
- I do.
Where?
There.
Ah.
You want to help me pull the trigger?
All right, put your finger right there.
All right, you guys want
these fried or stewed?
- Fried.
- Fried.
Fried?
All right.
- Hey.
- [Gail] Hey.
All right.
Now, get your fingers in there.
l'll get mine in.
1 , 2, 3.
Pull. Pull hard.
Now, l'm just gonna slit it down here.
Now, get in there
and get them guts out.
l don't want to.
Sonny, there's a bunch of stuff
that you're gonna have to get over
being scared of.
l'm not scared. l just don't want to.
Come on.
Put your fingers in there.
Good.
Do we eat these parts?
Not yet.
[motor rattling]
[motor stops]
- You think I forgot about you?
- What do you mean?
Forgot about you and everything
happening over here?
That's your business.
You forget us if you want.
The law found Jessup's car
at Gullet Lake this morning.
Somebody set fire to it last night,
burnt it down to nothing almost.
He wasn't in it.
He's gone, ain't he?
This is for you all.
[paper rustles]
His court day was this morning.
He didn't show.
I'd sell off your timber land
now while you can.
No, uh-uh.
We won't be doin' nothin' like that.
That's the very first thing they'll do.
Once they've took this place
from under you all, girl,
go out and cut them
hundred-year woods down to nubs.
Might as well have the dough
to spend on your own.
Hm?
[object rustling]
[keys jingle]
[sniffs]
You get the taste for it yet?
Not so far.
Suit yourself, little girl.
Them pills helping
your mama's mood any?
She keeps takin' them,
but they ain't working.
Tell her hey.
[sniffs]
Mom, look at me.
There's things happening,
and I don't know what to do.
Can you please help me this one time?
Mom?
Mom, look at me.
Teardrop thinks
I should sell the woods, Mom.
Should I sell?
Please, help me this one time.
l don't know what to do.
[Ree]
Who the hell is he?
[Gail]
Judging by that car, he ain't
from our neck of the woods.
Mike Satterfield, A-1 Bonds.
What is it you want?
We hold the bond on Jessup Dolly,
and now he's a runner, it looks like.
Dad ain't no runner.
He didn't show for court.
That makes him a runner.
Will you excuse us, please?
Go on.
Look, I don't want to kick
your dad's ass, all right?
I just want to keep the judge off mine.
Dad is dead.
He didn't show for court
'cause he's lying dead somewhere.
When was the last time you saw him?
A couple of weeks.
Who's he running around with?
Where they all hanging out?
He doesn't tell me that stuff, sir.
You know I got the legal right
to go in there hunting the man
any place l want.
I know you'd be wasting your time
and pissing me off.
Jessup Dolly is dead.
He's lying in a crappy grave somewhere
or become piles of shit in a hog pen.
Maybe he's been left out plain in the open.
Wherever he is, he's there dead.
And you know this how?
You must've heard what Dollys are,
ain't you, mister?
Well, I've heard what some are anyhow,
and I have bonded a few.
I'm a Dolly, bred and buttered,
and that's how l know Dad's dead.
How old are you?
1 7.
You know, uh, your daddy
was short on his bond.
This house and stuff here
couldn't cover it, not nearly.
D'you know that?
I didn't know nothin'.
They told me everything after.
Well, he was short on his bond,
but then this fella comes
in the office one evening,
got him a sack full of crinkled money
and just laid it down right there,
covered the rest.
Seemed like somebody
needed him sprung in a hurry.
This fella with the money have a name?
Shit, no.
Probably left that in his other pants.
How long before we get
kicked off our own property?
l reckon--
l reckon you all got this place
about another week.
That's my guess.
A week?
And there ain't nothing l can do?
Nope.
Ain't nothing left to do...
unless you can prove he's dead.
Catfish, Blond, you boys
staying out of trouble?
[man auctioneering]
[yells]
[barks]
[muttering]
[all mooing]
Thump Milton!
I need to talk to you!
Thump Milton.
Thump Milton!
Thump!
[moos]
[thunder rumbles]
[dogs barking]
[screams]
[Merab]
I told you to leave him be.
[grunting]
- [yells]
- [Merab] Get her, Alice.
No, you don't.
[screams]
[Merab]
That's what you get for not listening to me.
- [thud]
- [Ree screams]
[muffled screaming]
[thunder rumbles]
You was warned.
You was warned nice,
and you wouldn't listen.
Why didn't you listen?
What are we ever going to do
with you, baby girl?
Kill me, I guess.
That idea has been said already.
Got any others?
Help me.
Ain't nobody said
that idea yet, have they?
I tried to help you some before.
This is what come of it.
[door opens]
You got somethin' to say,
child, you best say it now.
I got two kids
that can't feed themselves yet.
My mom's sick,
and she's always gonna be sick.
Pretty soon the laws are coming
and taking our house
and throwing us out to live
in the field like dogs.
If Dad has done wrong, Dad has paid,
and whoever killed him,
I don't need to know all that.
But I can't forever carry them kids...
and my mom,
not without that house.
[car approaching]
Oh, shit.
I ain't gonna stand here naked
when that motherfucker comes in.
[garage door opening]
Where is she?
Don't get all excited, Teardrop.
She was warned, and more than once.
You hit her?
He never.
No man here touched that crazy girl.
I put the hurt on her,
me and my sisters.
They was here, too.
What Jessup done was against our ways.
He knew it, I know it,
and I ain't raised no stink at all
about whatever became of him.
But she ain't my brother.
She's about all
the close family I got left,
so I'll be collecting her now
and carrying her on out of here to home.
That suit you, Thump?
You're gonna stand for her, are you?
If she does wrong, you can put it on me.
She's now yours to answer for.
This is a girl
who ain't gonna tell nobody nothing.
[Thump]
You boys give him a hand.
Go on, put her in his truck.
[thunder rumbles]
[rain pattering]
Chomp down on that
till the blood lets up.
Your daddy couldn't face this last bust,
couldn't face a 1 0-year jolt.
He started talking to that fucking sheriff.
You own me now.
Understand?
They been waiting to see
if I'll do anything.
Watching.
I can't know for a certain fact
who went and killed my little brother.
Even if you find out,
you can't ever let me know who killed him.
Knowing that would just mean
I'd be toes up myself pretty soon.
Deal?
[Gail]
No, get out of the-- open the door.
- [Sonny] What? What's happened?
- Go on. Watch out.
[groans]
Gonna burn.
Squeeze my hand.
[swishes]
Thank you.
[door opens]
l just heard.
I brought these over for you.
They're painkillers. They're real strong.
These are gonna kick in real quick.
- Start with two.
- Okay.
She's gonna want more,
but start with two and build from there,
whatever number lets her rest.
Thank you.
Will you stay until I fall asleep first?
Yeah, I will.
But then make sure
they're doing their homework.
All right.
Does your arm hurt?
No.
Not bad.
[chainsaw buzzing]
[tree cracking]
[chainsaw stops]
[chainsaw buzzing]
[fades]
[distant gunfire]
[fire rumbles]
[distant bird crying]
Blond Milton said him and Sonya
would take Sonny in.
I tell you that?
Raise him on up from here for me.
Does he know? Sonny?
Not from us.
lf he knows, it's from somebody else
blabbing, 'cause l never.
He doesn't even know Dad cooks.
If they took him, that might help some.
What about Ashlee?
She don't shine for them.
Well, what else can you do?
Beg Victoria and Teardrop
to take Ashlee in.
God, I hope that ain't
the way it goes, Sweet Pea.
l hope to hell it ain't.
[class bell rings]
It was nice meeting you.
- Have a good day, okay?
- Thanks.
Hi, how you doing? Sergeant Schalk.
- Ree Dolly.
- Nice to meet you.
So what brought you
down here today, Ree?
Um, I wanted to find out more
about the $40,000 I get for signing up.
Well, that's a good reason
for joining,
but why don't you give me
three better reasons for joining?
Because once you join up,
there's no turning back,
and it might not be worth
$40,000 dollars to you.
Well, the main reason
is I need the money.
It'd be nice to travel, I suppose.
You know, five years
is a long commitment.
Well, how long
before l get the money?
Well, after you sign up,
it would be anywhere
between 1 4 weeks to 82 weeks.
Well, how come it doesn't say that
on the poster?
Probably a clerical error,
or it just wasn't on there.
It might have been
in fine print at the bottom.
Do you mind me asking,
what happened to your--
your eye and your lip?
l fell off my bike.
Fell off a bike?
Well, um, how old are you?
- 1 7.
- You're 1 7.
Okay. Now, if this is something
you really wanted to do,
we'd have to bring Mom and Dad
in on this, okay?
I can sign for myself.
Not at 1 7, you can't.
At 1 7 you're still considered
a minor by the U.S. Government.
You have to be 1 8 to sign up.
Would it be a problem
getting Mom and Dad in here?
l mean, l can come out
to you guys' house--
My mom is sick.
My dad's. . . gone.
Well, do you have any brothers or sisters
that might be able to help?
I got a little brother
and a little sister, 1 2 and 6.
Well, who's taking care of them right now?
- I am.
- You are?
Is that why you need the $40,000?
Yes, sir.
Well, it sounds like
it might be a bigger challenge
just to stay home, you know,
and actually take care
of your brother and sister
because you know you're not
going to be able to take them
with you to training, right?
I thought maybe I could.
Not right at the beginning.
Plus you wouldn't be able to have them
when you're actually
in the active duty Army
because who's going to be
there to take care of them
if you have to go off and actually fight?
So it sounds like right now
you need to buckle up and stay home.
It's going to take a lot of backbone
and a lot of courage to stay home,
but that, l think, is what you need to do
right at this point.
Okay?
Now, something might change
here in the next year or so.
You might decide
this is what you want to do, you know?
But don't take it lightly,
and don't do it just for the money.
You need to have a good reason
to do this, okay?
- Okay.
- All right, well, it was nice meeting you.
Nice meeting you.
Have a good day, okay?
Thank you.
What's going on?
I'm tired of waiting around
for shit to come down.
Let's get out and poke 'em
where they're at,
see what happens.
[groans]
[country]
[chatter]
[sighs]
[chattering, laughing]
Oh, Lord.
Ray and them are over there.
Ray.
[Ray]
What do you want?
l ain't seen him.
If I could help you, I would.
There's certain things you can't do.
lt's bullshit, this fucking shit, man.
[kicks door]
You're useless as tits on a fucking boar.
l don't know where he is.
It's gonna be much worse
next time I come back.
l'll tell you that right now.
[Ray]
Best thing you can do
is leave it alone, brother.
Believe me.
You come back up in here,
you gonna get you an ass whoopin'
that won't quit.
Oh, yeah?
Look what the fuck
this shit already caused.
- What the hell?
- [clattering]
[Ray]
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
[pound]
[Ray]
Hey!
[Ray]
lt's on now.
[starts engine]
[Ray]
lt's so on.
We're coming after you, dude.
We're coming,
and we're bringing hell, too.
[Ree]
What the hell are we doing?
[Teardrop]
Looking for humps that ain't settled.
[sighs]
Oh, hell.
He ain't here.
He ain't anywhere.
[flicks lighter, exhales]
He's somewhere.
[siren bleeps]
- Teardrop.
- [bleeps]
You should stop.
Just see what he wants.
Shh...
[car door shuts]
Get out of the truck, Teardrop.
I need to talk to you.
l don't think so.
lt ain't about you.
You're not in trouble.
lt's about your brother.
Nope.
Tonight I ain't doin'
a fucking thing you say.
Get out of the truck.
Put your hands where I can see 'em.
Come on, get out.
Why'd you tell?
Why?
You went and got his ass killed.
You happy now?
l know you.
l know your family.
Get out of the car now.
Is this gonna be our time?
[starts ignition]
[Ree]
What I really can't stand
is why I feel so ashamed for Dad.
Well, he loved you all.
That's where he went weak.
Lots of us can be tough,
plenty tough enough,
and do it for a long stretch, too.
But snitching.
For lots and lots 'a years he wasn't.
He wasn't, he wasn't,
and one day he was.
You always have scared me.
That's 'cause you're smart.
[Ree]
Will you look through this stuff?
See what you want to keep?
That's Dad.
And Teardrop.
Ashlee, you remember
when Dad made that for you?
Mm-hm.
Look at this guy with her.
[Sonny]
That's him?
Mm-hm.
How old was he in that picture?
Probably around my age.
"I don't know how l ever
latched on to someone like you,
"but I sure hope I can keep
you interested in me forever.
l love you and will always be true."
Ha! Found ya.
Found ya!
[knocks]
We're goin' to fix your problem for you.
Right now I'm feeling
like blowing me a clean hole
through your fucking guts.
I know you do,
but you won't.
You'll put that scatter gun
away and come along with us.
You must think I'm crazy.
We'll take you to your daddy's bones.
We know the place.
We need to put a stop
to all this nonsense talk
about us we've been having to hear.
I ain't said a thing about you.
I know, but everybody else has.
l'm bringing this.
No, you won't bring that, either.
You want his bones,
you'll set that down and come along.
You go on and take that sack off now.
Give it to me.
Child, you might know where you are.
If you do, you forget you know it.
You get me?
[cows mooing]
[metal clatters]
[Merab]
He should be right there.
You're gonna need to reach down
and tug him up.
He ain't deep.
Straight down.
Can you feel of him?
[panting]
[groans]
[Whimpering]
All right, now.
- Here, take this.
- What?
- How else you gonna get his hands?
- No.
- Oh, come on, child.
- No.
Your daddy would want you to do this.
Now, here, take the saw.
[Alice]
She can't do it, Merab.
Hold his arm out straight, child.
[yanking pull starter]
Shit.
[Weeping]
Why'd you let go?
You're gonna need both hands,
or sure as shit they'll say he cut one off
to keep from going to prison.
They know that trick.
Now reach back down in there, now, quick.
[Water splashes]
[starts chainsaw]
[gasps]
There you go.
Let's go, Alice.
[Man on police radio]
Christian County 1 36,
that thing comes back
to a P.O. Box address out of Cassville.
The owner appears to be
a relative of the female
who is taking care of the kids.
[Woman on radio]
Christian County to 1 60.
[Man]
Got it.
Come on back.
Oh.
How in the hell did you come by these?
Someone flung them
up on the porch last night.
Reckon l'll run these straight over.
The lab can tell me if they're his.
They're his.
Those are my dad's hands.
We'll know yes or no
on that soon enough.
l bet your dad would still be here
if he was just growing his marijuana.
Hey.
I didn't shoot the other night
'cause you were there in the truck.
He never backed me down.
It looked to me like he did.
Don't you let me hear
that's the story getting around.
I don't talk about you, man, ever.
You're a good boy.
Good boy.
Thank you.
Clip. Thank you.
[car door shuts]
Sonny.
Hey, Ashlee.
I brung these for you two to raise up.
[together]
Thank you.
What's he doing here?
I have no idea.
l know you.
[Satterfield]
Yep.
Looks like you earned
this money with blood, kid.
- That's yours.
- How's it mine?
Well, that feller never did give a name,
but he sure was good news for you all
when he put that down on Jessup.
Ain't it still his, though?
You can use it
a hell of a lot more than him.
He ain't gonna come back for it, neither,
not the way things happened.
We took our cut,
and that there's what's left.
That makes it yours.
I don't know how you did that.
Bred and buttered. I told you.
Well, you take care, okay?
Here.
Yeah.
Well, it's been a long time.
Back off a little.
You're making me nervous.
Oh, shit.
Hm.
I was never good like your daddy was.
l know who.
What?
Jessup.
l know who.
You should have this.
Oh, no, you--
Why don't you keep it here for me?
[starts truck, drives off]
Does that money mean you're leaving?
l ain't leaving you guys.
Why do you think that?
We heard you talking about the Army.
Are you wanting to leave us?
I'd be lost without
the weight of you two on my back.
l ain't going anywhere.
[chirping]
[banjo]
[Woman]
Tempted and tried
We're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus
All the day long
While there are others
Living about us
Never molested
Though in the wrong
Farther along
We'll know more about it
Farther along
We'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother
Live in the sunshine
'Cause we'll understand it
All by and by
Sometimes I wonder
Why must I suffer
Out in the rain
The cold, and the snow
When there are many
Living in comfort
Giving no heed
To all that I know
Farther along
We'll know more about it
Farther along
We'll understand why
But cheer up, my sister
Live in the sunshine
We'll understand it
All by and by
[guitar]
Subtitled By J.R. Media Services, lnc.
Burbank, CA